Health
ANAMBRA Ministry of Health is on alert with a high index suspicion and increased surveillance to contain Lassa fever.
Joe Akabuike, commissioner for Health, said this while responding to questions on measures taken by the state to contain Lassa fever to newsmen at his Jerome Udoji Secretariat office, Awka.
“Epidemiology unit of the ministry is saddled with the responsibility of any disease outbreak in the state; it has increased sensitisation on the causes, symptoms and treatment of Lassa fever.’’
Akabuike urged health workers to take precautionary measures while attending to any patient and to “ treat patients as if they have infectious disease’’.
Commissioner noted that many states that share boarder with Anambra could be affected with Lassa fever.
He also enjoined the health workers to look out for patients with persistence fever and other symptoms and subject them to proper diagnosis.
The commissioner lamented that the diagnosis was complex and it would be carried out in Edo and Ebonyi states.
Akabuike urged the members of the public to observe basic personal and environmental hygiene.
“Apart from contact from affected persons, Lassa fever has to do with rodents and smaller animals that live in bush around houses,’’ commissioner said.
He insisted that regular hand washing would go a long way in saving many lives against the disease.
Akabuike emphasised that the only way to tract and manage Lassa fever would be through early detection and treatment.
– Mar. 7, 2019 @ 17:45 GMT |
Tags: Anambra on alert to contain Lassa fever
